Fuel composition

ABSTRACT

A composition useful, inter alia, as a fuel, is based on ethyl alcohol denatured with methylisobutyl alcohol and kerosene, which is mixed with xylenes and isopropyl alcohol. The xylenes and isopropyl alcohol act with the denaturizing agents to raise the flash point above that of ethyl alcohol alone and also to mask the odor and color the flame, thus making the composition safer for use as a charcoal lighter or as a fuel for e.g. patio lamps.

The present invention relates to compositions, which can be used forlighting charcoal grills and trash fires, as fuel in patio torches,lanterns and liquid fueled stoves and heaters and for other purposes asdescribed below.

It is known that alcohol constitutes an excellent base for a charcoalfires lighter, since it burns without creating smoke or noxious fumesand has good ignition capacity. Its drawback, however, is its highflammability, which can lead to a risk of injury by burning, or evenexplosion, if it is poured on hot, but not apparently burning, charcoal.In some cases, flashback through the air to a container held in theuser's hand can occur.

Initially, these problems caused the avoidance of alcohol as the basefor lighter compositions and the use, instead, of paraffin-basedcompositions. These, however, suffered from the drawback that paraffinburns with a dirty, smelly flame, which is particularly undesirable inthe case of domestic uses, such as backyard barbecues.

An alternative solution, suggested for example in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,801,292 and 4,238,201, is to confine the liquid alcohol, as it burns,within a solid or semi-solid mass so as to reduce the risk of explosion,or large flames. These compositions are, however, relatively expensiveand less convenient to use than liquid fuels.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alcohol basedcomposition for fire lighting, which avoids the dangers anddisadvantages described above.

It is a further object to provide such as composition which burnswithout unpleasant odors, yet with visible indication of its combustion.

It is yet a further object to provide such a composition in which theflash point has been raised above the 55° F. level of ethyl alcohol toreduce the risk of explosion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a composition comprisingethyl alcohol denatured, preferably by the addition of a ketone such asmethyl isobutyl ketone, and kerosene, and mixed with xylenes andisopropyl alcohol. Xylenes is a mixture of the three different isomersof xylene, ortho-, para- and metaxylene. The ketone and kerosene actprimarily as denaturants, but may be added in quantities in excess ofthose required for that purpose alone, so as to raise the flash point ofthe mixture, change its odor and add color to the flame with which itburns. The xylenes and isopropyl alcohol serve to raise the flash point,to mask the odor and to make the flame more visible. The preferred rangeof the constituents of the composition are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                      Parts by Volume                                                                           Percent                                             ______________________________________                                        Ethyl alcohol   1.000         79.37-87.72                                     Methyl isobutyl ketone                                                                        60-90         5.26-7.14                                       Kerosene        20-50         1.75-3.97                                       Xylenes         30-60         2.63-4.76                                       Isopropyl alcohol                                                                             30-60         2.63-4.76                                       ______________________________________                                    

The xylenes could be replaced by a mixture of toluene and methylalcohol. The denaturing agent could be gasoline, or deodorized kerosene.Acetone could also be added to mask the smell of alcohol.

To prepare the composition, it has been found preferable to mix togetherall the constituents set out above with the exception of the ethylalcohol and to add this pre-mixed composition to ethyl alcohol. Thisensures that solution of the components in the alcohol occursexpeditiously.

Compositions embodying the invention can be treated to form a paste-likemass suitable for use as a sterno-like solid fuel. In addition to theiruse as a fuel, compositions embodying the invention can be used to cleanpaint brushes for varnish, lacquer or oil based paints.

Two examples of specific compositions embodying the invention will nowbe described.

EXAMPLE I

The following constituents in the following proportions are mixed; allthe constituents other than the ethyl alcohol being initially premixedand the premixture then added to the ethyl alcohol.

    ______________________________________                                        Constituent          Parts by Volume                                          ______________________________________                                        Ethyl alcohol        1000                                                     (at least 90%/180 proof)                                                      Methyl isobutyl ketone                                                                             80                                                       Xylenes              40                                                       Kerosene             30                                                       Isopropyl alcohol    60                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE II

This is prepared exactly as for Example I, but the composition is asfollows:

    ______________________________________                                        Constituent          Parts by Volume                                          ______________________________________                                        Ethyl alcohol        1000                                                     (at least 90%/180 proof)                                                      Methyl isobutyl ketone                                                                             80                                                       Xylenes              50                                                       Kerosene             50                                                       Isopropyl alcohol    50                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The composition of Example II burns with a more pronounced yellow flamethan that of Example I.

I claim:
 1. A composition comprising:1000 parts by volume of at least90%/180 proof ethyl alcohol; 60-90 parts by volume of methylisobutylketone; 20-50 parts by volume of kerosene; 30-60 parts by volume ofxylenes, and .[.20-50.]. .Iadd.30-60 .Iaddend.parts by volume ofisopropyl alcohol.
 2. A composition comprising:1000 parts by volume ofat least 90%/180 proof ethyl alcohol; 60-90 parts by volume ofmethylisobutyl ketone; 20-50 parts by volume of kerosene; 30-60 parts byvolume of a mixture of toluene and methyl alcohol, and 20-50 parts byvolume of isopropyl alcohol.
 3. A composition comprising:1000 parts byvolume of at least 90%/180 proof ethyl alcohol; 60-90 parts by volume ofmethylisobutyl ketone; 20-50 parts by volume of gasoline; 3- 60parts byvolume of xylenes, and 20-50 parts by volume of isopropyl alcohol.
 4. Acomposition comprising:1000 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol of at least90%/180 proof; about 80 parts by volume of methylisobutyl ketone; about40 parts by volume of xylenes; about 30 parts by volume of kerosene, andabout .[.50.]. .Iadd.60 .Iaddend.parts by volume of isopropyl alcohol.5. A composition comprising:1000 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol of atleast 90%/180 proof; about 80 parts by volume of methylisobutyl ketone;about 50 parts by volume of xylenes; about 50 parts by volume ofkerosene, and 50 parts by volume of isopropyl alcohol. .Iadd.
 6. Acomposition comprising:ethyl alcohol; an amount of denaturizing agentpresent in an effective amount to denaturize said ethyl alcohol; andacomposition comprising xylenes and isopropyl alcohol, present in suchamounts as to raise the flash point, to mask the odor and to make theflame of said ethyl alcohol upon burning more visible. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A composition as claimed in claim 6 wherein said denaturizing agentcomprises ketones and kerosene. .Iaddend.